Conference Session

New Trends in Graduate Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey Marston, Western Carolina University; Brian Howell, Western Carolina University; James Zhang, Western Carolina University; Roger Clapp, WATR

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

28713Abstract The application of remote sensing, especially in the field of environmentalmonitoring, has been a relatively new topic. This paper reports progress and results oftwo real-world environmental sensing projects and the impact on graduate learning. The first project is the design and development of a microclimate system. This isa system for use on the land and incorporates sensors that can detect temperature, light,soil moisture, and soil temperature. The design with Crossbow motes, daughter sensorboard, and powering methods will be discussed in the paper. The second related project is a water quality monitor. The project is through thesupport and collaboration with a local non-profit organization, WATR. The water

Conference Session

Measuring Success of Graduate Program Components

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Zhang, Western Carolina University; Ken Burbank, Western Carolina University; Brian Howell, Western Carolina University; Bill Yang, Western Carolina University; Yeqin Huang, Western Carolina University; Robert Adams, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

researchprojects (Discovery), the on-campus students engage with the industry by working onreal-world projects brought by off-campus students (Integration and Application), and theTAs help professors with their innovative teaching projects (Teaching). Some exampleprojects will be discussed more in detail in the following sections.Implementation II – Curriculum DesignLike the students selected for the program, the MST program curriculum is also designedto improve the students’ skills to engage research, industrial integration and applications,and innovative teaching methods development. The MST curriculum at Western CarolinaUniversity is shown in Table 2. Table 2 A Typical MST Course Checklist Area Credit Hours

Conference Session

Improving the Teaching Skills of Graduate Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lingtao Zhang, Western Carolina University; Robert Adams, Western Carolina University; James Zhang, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

has been one of the most rapidlygrowing disciplines and been widely used both in industry and daily lives. As a result, wirelesscommunications courses are becoming increasingly popular as an important part of engineeringeducation in various universities and educational institutions. However, in many universities,there are still not sufficient or efficient laboratory contents to effectively enhance the students’learning with hands-on experiences. This paper reports progress and results of the developmentof a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) system for undergraduate laboratory experimentsas a graduate student project. Improvements of teaching quality and effectiveness for both thegraduate and undergraduate students in wireless

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Randall Holmes, Caterpillar Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

industry. The professional curricula is being designed asa matrix of studies integrative with engineering practice that match, support, and correlate with themodern paradigm of engineering practice and progression of professional abilities required forresponsible leadership in engineering innovation from entry level engineer through chief engineer levelresponsibilities. The evolving model is centered around five major components: a) Relevant advancedstudies; b) Self-directed learning; c) Experiential-learning; d) Project-based learning [advancedtechnology development project directly relevant to industry / socio need]; and e) On-going engagementin engineering practice for innovation and creative works. The process is centered around the

Conference Session

Methods & Techniques in Graduate Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brant Price, Western Carolina University; James Zhang, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

-based algorithms, have had some success with this problem. The use ofHigher Order Statistics (HOS), more specifically PSD and auto-correlation functions,were used for statistical signal processing [3]. Data analysis could also be accomplishedusing the Weighted Fourier Linear Combiner (WFLC), which is based on the FourierLinear Combiner (FLC) [6]. The WFLC has the capability to extend the FLC to the caseof an unknown fundamental frequency; essentially, the WFLC can essentially track thefrequency and amplitude modulation of a time varying input signal [7].This paper reports the progress of a graduate research project on human hand tremordetection and analysis. This project has two major aspects: hardware and software. Thehardware was used to

Conference Session

Methods & Techniques in Graduate Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Walter Schilling

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

of graduate studies impacting practicing professionals, project management issues,and job search issues.1. IntroductionIt can be said that, from many aspects, the best time for an engineering student to obtaintheir Ph.D. is after a period of working in industry. By the time one completes five toseven years of higher education, students can be “burned out” and otherwise not ready forthe rigor of a Doctoral Degree. By breaking at this point and working in industry for afew years, students can obtain a better understanding of the practice of engineering thancan be obtained from the classroom and co-operative (co-op) or internship experience.Furthermore, they can better understand exactly what area of engineering they wish topursue in their

Conference Session

Methods & Techniques in Graduate Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joy Colwell, Purdue University Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

, Electrical andComputer Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology, ManufacturingEngineering Technology, and Organizational Leadership and Supervision.The Master of Science (MS) in Technology degree is in its initial phase. A degree modeled aftera MS degree from the main campus (Purdue University West Lafayette), the regional campusauthority to offer this degree is pending final approval from the state. To build the graduatedegree program while awaiting final degree approval, SOT is offering some courses under maincampus authority to build a student base. The overall program structure is a directed project-based degree and consists of 33 hours: three core courses (9 credit hours), Measurement andEvaluation in Industry & Technology

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; Joseph Rencis; Eugene DeLoatch, Morgan State University; Mohammad Noori, North Carolina State University; Edward Sullivan, California Polytechnic State University; David Woodall, Oregon Institute of Technology; Norman Egbert, Rolls-Royce Corporation; David Quick, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Albert McHenry; Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Samuel Truesdale, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Timothy Lindquist, Arizona State University; Harvey Palmer, Rochester Institute of Technology; Joseph Tidwell, Arizona State University Polytechnic; Mark Smith, Rochester Institute of Technology; Duane Dunlap, Purdue University; Mark Schuver, Purdue University; Edmund Segner, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Stephen Tricamo, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Barry Farbrother, University of New Haven; Ken Burbank, Western Carolina University; Carla Purdy, University of Cincinnati; Randall Holmes, Caterpillar Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

experience to his [or her] basic technical training.”113. Project Description ─Workforce Development in Engineering for InnovationDeliberately created in 2000 ─ by the ASEE-Graduate Studies Division, Corporate Members Council, theCollege Industry Partnership Division and leaders from industry and universities across the nation, theNational Collaborative Task Force on Engineering Graduate Education Reform is embarking on a majorinitiative to make this much needed advancement in professional engineering graduate education actuallyhappen in the national interest.3.1 Fixing the ProblemWhile U.S. engineering education is not in crisis at the undergraduate level, it never the less has notattained its potential in formulating a system that facilitates

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Randall Holmes, Caterpillar Inc.; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

included directing/coaching/mentoring degreed engineers in the performance of detailed finite element analyses and life analyses, in support of the preliminary design, final design, upgrade, engine testing, and the failure analysis of military, commercial, helicopter, and industrial gas turbine engine components. Chief Secretary/Treasurer of the Rolls-Royce Indianapolis, Engineering Education Committee. Member of the Indiana State Leadership Team for Project Lead the Way Member of the steering committee for the Rolls-Royce Purdue Master of Science in Technology Cohort degree program. Prior to my work at Rolls-Royce, I worked in various engineering and management

Conference Session

New Trends in Graduate Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel Walsh, California Polytechnic State University; Stacey Breitenbach, California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

over the course of their lifetime available in NSF technology indicators publications one finds that an MS degree is worth an additional $250,000 over the course of a lifetime, a Ph.D. five times that.5 Page 13.97.4 2. There are many roads to the graduate degree, graduate schools weigh many factors in selecting students and GPA is but one of them. By virtue of their interests and initiative, the content of their senior projects or the experiences they have in summer jobs, students can make personal connections with faculty who seek graduate students. 3. Students typically get paid (albeit modestly) to go to graduate

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Norman Egbert, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Eugene DeLoatch, Morgan State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

merely as Page 13.561.6a proof of design.”15 And the vital key to successful technological innovation is effectiveengineering leadership and the ‘product champion’. As Kingston notes ─ “The importance of the“champion” is seen through the effect of his or her leadership on the learning process.” Alsoimportant to engineering workforce development for meaningful creative work, for both thecompany and the engineer, is the experience factor and retention factor in developing acompany’s engineer [although too often overlooked and undervalued].As the Department of Defense study, Project Hindsight, has pointed out ─ “In examining thepersonal histories of

Conference Session

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lyubov Kurkalova, North Carolina A&T State University; Keith Schimmel, North Carolina A&T State University; Stephen Johnston, North Carolina A&T State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

environmental regulatory systems at the state,national, and international levels are presented. The second course, Application of Energy andEnvironmental Economic Policy Analysis, provides the quantitative economic techniquesnecessary for analyzing energy and environmental projects and issues. The course coversengineering economics techniques for energy project valuation and econometric techniques usedin forecasting the supply of and the demand for energy and environmental services. Presentedherein are details of the content and methods utilized in the courses and student feedback onthem.IntroductionThe Energy & Environmental (EES) Ph.D. program is a new interdisciplinary graduate programat North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State

Conference Session

Improving the Teaching Skills of Graduate Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maura Borrego, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

assessment.Assessment questions we would like to answer in these first few years of the project are: 1. How does the Graduate Teaching Fellow workload and level of responsibility compare to other departments? 2. Are Graduate Teaching Fellows receiving appropriate training and mentoring for their teaching activities? 3. What is the effect on other teaching assistants of interaction with elite Graduate Teaching Fellows?The role that Graduate Teaching Fellows (GTFs) and other graduate teaching assistants play inthis first-year program is called workshop leaders. There is little difference in the way GTFs andother workshop leaders are treated, other than being assigned fewer sections. Because of this,and the interest in interactional effects

Conference Session

Improving the Teaching Skills of Graduate Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Susan Montgomery, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

, sample 10 minute lecture, open-ended project and/or design activity, andhourly exam. In addition students develop teaching philosophy and teaching interest statementsto help define themselves as teachers and for possible future job searches. One of the mostsuccessful initiatives in this highly interactive course has been the implementation of “teachingpartners,” who support each other through the process, providing feedback on all materialsdeveloped. In this paper, I describe this course and provide suggestions for faculty consideringteaching such courses themselves.Course historyThis course had its origins in my participation in the National Effective Teaching Institute, runby Profs. Richard Felder and Jim Stice in 1994 1. This was an excellent

Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ram Mohan, North Carolina A&T State University; Vinaya Kelkar, North Carolina A&T State University; Ajit Kelkar, North Carolina A&T State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

on their undergraduate major. This poses significant challenges tograduate faculty teaching these courses and mentoring these students with diversifiedbackgrounds.This paper focuses on our experiences and observations with the course content and structure,teaching methods, evaluation and student performances in these courses with diversifiedgraduate students and their mentoring for the past 3 years. The performances of the students inthese core courses based on the evaluations through tests, projects, etc., using the data collectedfor the past 3 years are correlated to their background and analyzed. Our experiences andobservations of the technical and interdisciplinary maturity from the time of the admission andthe graduation of the students

Conference Session

Measuring Success of Graduate Program Components

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nathan McNeill, Purdue University; Monica Cox, Purdue University; Heidi Diefes-Dux, Purdue University; Tenille Medley, Purdue University; Jeremi Hayes, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

providepedagogical feedback to engineering laboratory graduate teaching assistants. The project beganwith use of the VaNTH Observation System, a direct observation instrument which providesfeedback about the extent to which an instructor’s interactions with students fit within thedimensions of the “How People Learn” framework, a model of effective teaching and learning aspresented in the National Research Council monograph, How People Learn: Brain, Mind,Experience, and School. Preliminary findings revealed challenges to the use of this instrument ina first-year engineering laboratory course taught by graduate teaching assistants. To provideinformation for the adaptation of this instrument for use in the laboratory environment and to aidin developing new

Conference Session

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Linda Anthony, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Marjory Palius, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Carolyn Maher, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Prabhas Moghe, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

New Jersey MARJORY F. PALIUS is Assistant Director of the Robert B. Davis Institute for Learning at the Graduate School of Education of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She conducts research, supports development of new projects, coordinates collaborative research projects and professional development programs, and manages fiscal and administrative operations for the grant-funded institute. She is also a doctoral student in mathematics education at Rutgers and has worked on studies of middle school students’ informal mathematics learning in after-school programs and of teachers making the transition from practitioner to researcher. Her primary research interest is the role of

Conference Session

Methods & Techniques in Graduate Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rebecca Brent, Education Designs Inc.; Richard Felder, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

A Professional Development Program for Graduate Students at North Carolina State UniversityI. Introduction The traditional engineering graduate school experience involves taking courses, selectinga dissertation or thesis advisor and project, performing the research under the advisor’ssupervision, and completing and defending the dissertation. Such an experience trains graduatestudents to carry out research on a problem someone else has defined and gotten funded. It doesnot, however, prepare them for anything else they might be called upon to do in graduate schooland in their professional careers, including: • Teaching assistant responsibilities. Grade assignments, projects, and tests; supervise laboratories

Conference Session

Issues of Diversity in Graduate Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Eugene DeLoatch, Morgan State University; Sherra Kerns, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Lueny Morell, Hewlett-Packard; Carla Purdy, University of Cincinnati; Paige Smith, University of Maryland; Samuel Truesdale, Rolls-Royce Corporation

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

discussinitiatives that can be carried out effectively by individuals or small groups, initiatives that canbe supported by industry and by other groups external to the university, and initiatives thatrequire institutional support. Not surprisingly, successful projects draw support from several ofthese groups. Major stakeholders who can affect graduate education at an individual institutioninclude individual graduate students, student organizations, and supportive corporate sponsors.Major stakeholders who could help with institutionalization include not only university andcollege administrators and engineering faculty but also government and nongovernmentalorganizations, as well as corporate sponsors. Our goal in this session is to offer specificexamples of

Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jan Rinehart, Rice University; Sherry Woods, University of Texas at Austin; Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Rice University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network) President from 2002-2003. She received her M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in secondary education from Abilene Christian University.Sherry Woods, University of Texas at Austin Sherry E. Woods, Ed.D., is Director of Special Projects in the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Her responsibilities include promoting the College’s faculty development and continuous improvement efforts. Prior to assuming this position in 2001, she served as Director of the Women in Engineering Program at UT Austin for over six years. Dr. Woods received her B.A. in Social Science

Conference Session

Measuring Success of Graduate Program Components

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gerald Crain, University of Oklahoma; James Sluss, University of Oklahoma; Monte Tull, University of Oklahoma; Samuel Lee, University of Oklahoma

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

faculty collaborate to assure thatcontemporary courses are offered in a manner sufficiently timely to enable students to contributeto research in their selected area of focused study. Core graduate courses that contribute broadlyto the areas of research focus (i.e., Digital Signal Processing contributes broadly toCommunications, Radar, Bio-Engineering and other technologies) will be offered on a morefrequent basis. Faculty members are encouraged to include projects for deeper learning andopportunities for students to present their work orally to their classmates and their peers.Students are given opportunities to and are strongly encouraged to publish and present their workin Scholarly fora. Students who engage in developing peer reviewed

Conference Session

New Trends in Graduate Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Donald Mueller, Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne; Hossein Oloomi, Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne; Elizabeth Thompson, Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne; Jiaxin Zhao, Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne; Steve Walter, Indiana University Purdue University, Fort Wayne (Eng)

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

might include the degree requirement of a project, ‚ the assurance of sufficient enrollment in courses on a regular basis, ‚ the establishment of an equitable reward system for faculty members who advise students or serve on graduate committees, and ‚ the development of certificate option in systems engineering.References 1. Council of Graduate Schools, “NDEA 21: A Renewed Commitment to Graduate Education.” Washington DC, November 2005. 2. Council of Graduate Schools, “Graduate Education: The Backbone of American Competitiveness and Innovation,” Washington DC, April 2007. 3. W. Whiteman and B. Mathews, “Is It Real or Is It Memorex: A Distance Learning Experience,” Proceedings of the

Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tershia Pinder-Grover, University of Michigan; Sarah Root, University of Arkansas; Emine Cagin, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

AC 2008-1698: PREPARING GRADUATE STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL ASTEACHING MENTORS AND AS FUTURE PROFESSIONALSTershia Pinder-Grover, University of Michigan Tershia Pinder-Grover (tpinder@umich.edu) is the Coordinator of Engineering Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Initiatives at the Center for Research on Learning in Teaching at the University of Michigan. She oversees the Engineering GSI Mentor (EGSM) Program, plans teacher training for new engineering GSIs, develops workshops and seminars, and consults with faculty and GSIs on pedagogy and engineering education research projects. Dr. Tershia Pinder-Grover earned her B.S. degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and